NGT okays Odd-Even scheme in Delhi to fight pollution, allows no exemption
New Delhi, Nov 11 (IBNS) : The National Green Tribunal on Saturday gave go-ahead to the Delhi Government for implementation of the ODD-EVEN scheme for vehicles for five days starting on November 13 in order to check air pollution in the city, reports said.
The tribunal had initially rejected the decision, reports said.
However, Two Wheelers, Women and government employees will now not be exempted from the scheme, though Ambulances will be.
During the hearing, the tribunal questioned the city Government as to why it was granting exemptions to certain sections if the aim was to improve air quality.
In the announcement, NGT said, “Odd-Even scheme must be implemented in Delhi NCR as and when PM 10 crosses 300 level and PM 2.5 crosses 500.”
The bench for the approval of the scheme was headed by Justice Swatantra Kumar.
NGT also criticized the lack of cooperation between the various departments of the government and the urgency to make decisions without overseeing their implications.
The Delhi Government was also asked to present the letter on which they decided to create the scheme and if they had taken the approval of the LG.
The AAP Government had on Thursday announced introduction of the odd-even scheme from eight am to eight pm for five days as part of a Graded Response Plan to tackle the alarming pollution situation in the national capital.
The region has been suffering from intense smog over the past few days, which has forced the administration to declare an 'emergency'.
Life have been thrown out of gear in many places, with schools shut, accidents on highways, delay in train and flight timings, etc.
The NGT has banned construction and industrial activities in Delhi-NCR till November 14.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also sent notices to the Centre, and to the governments of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana in view of the life-threatening pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region.
image ngt website
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